Saint Rémy de Provence has it all, shopping, galleries, a big market on Wednesday mornings and (almost) too many restaurant choices. The picturesque, lively town snuggled into the base of Les Alpilles, the miniature Alps. With a rich history—highlighted by the Romans, Nostradamus and Vincent Van Gogh—plus heritage celebrations and …

The largest village in the Alpilles, St Rémy de Provence, has dangerously tempting boutiques, excellent restaurants, a dynamic Wednesday morning market, and even a movie theatre. Located at the base of the mountain range, St Rémy was the birthplace of Nostradamus (1503), and many of Vincent van Gogh’s canvases feature …

Mother Nature jumped the gun this year, often bringing brilliant azure skies and near-balmy weather well before spring officially arrived. The tantalizing temps make bundling up unnecessary when my husband and I head outside to elevate our heart rate with a nature walk. And with the expansive Parc Naturel Regional …

A Precocious Talent “As a young boy in Brittany,” says Joël Durand, “I had three dreams—to be a chef, a pastry-maker, or a race car driver.” A smile crosses his face. “My parents made it clear that driving race cars was not in the cards, so I started cooking when …

Jewel of the Alpilles Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (often written St Rémy) is perhaps the ideal sized town in the Alpilles. There are plenty of tempting boutiques, chic hotels, a charming pedestrian-friendly centre and lots of restaurants. The largest town in the Alpilles, St Rémy has a population of roughly 9,800 people. Popular …

St-Rémy-de-Provence is one of the most charming towns in Provence. It’s a great place to spend a few days nestled at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Here are some fun things you can do while you’re there. Walk in the Footsteps of …

Weather Moves If you are in Provence in the spring or fall, you might see the movement of sheep and goats to greener pastures – transhumance. These organized transhumance events in Provence are kid-friendly and entertaining. Watching several thousand animals moving through village streets is worth experiencing. Seasonal weather dictates …

I’m always on the lookout for interesting spots in the Alpilles, and I’ve recently found a new one! Les Gourmandises de To is an Epicerie Gourmande in the countryside between Saint Remy de Provence and Les Baux de Provence. I visited a couple of days ago after the market in …

After many years in Provence, Jane Satow has realized her dream of combining her two passions – food and culture. Earlier this year, she launched La Cuisine Provençale – a new interactive cooking school in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Jane moved to Provence with her young family and built her business around, introducing …

For two decades, Gayle Padgett and her husband Ralph maintained a long-distance relationship with Provence. They often travelled to the South of France during their vacation time from US government jobs in Germany. As their retirement years approached, the “Where are we going to live?” question loomed. The couple chose …